Chapter 8- information can be dangerous
The rest of the day passed with a feeling of disappointment that even Hopes safe rescue could not banish. A quiet dinner was followed by everyone returning to their individual sleeping quarters with very little conversation. Simon had waited until Hope had fallen asleep before leaving the girl ,as he walked back to his dormitory he began to think about the day when he'd have to leave the home and how his goodbye would impact upon the young girl. He noticed that the other orphans followed him back to his dormitory looking at him with large amazed eyes. The story of what he'd done had spread like wild fire and now they seemed to think he could do anything, even save their home. As he entered the dormitory the children all turned and left with Alena being the final one to turn away. He wished he could be the hero they wanted him to be. When he saw the look on Bill's face he knew he was feeling exactly the same, a great big disappointment.
Trixie went to her dormitory with a strong sense of failure, this was not what she'd imagined when she'd talked about trying to solve this mystery. "I can't believe it's over", she told Di and Honey. "Yeah and that dad failed, I'd never thought in a million years that would happen, Honey remarked. "I suppose we have to be thankful that the orphans do have somewhere to go and won't end up out on the streets", Di told them. 'I know that's true Di, but I like this place", Trixie remarked. "Well we are running out of time to do anything", Honey told them.
Going to sleep after listening to a statement like that proved difficult for Trixie and she spend long time tossing and turning. Finally giving up on sleep she wrapped a warm gown around her and stepped out of the dormitory intending on going to the office to search more diaries.
She'd only gone a short way when she was joined by another warmly wrapped person. "Trix", Dan greeted. "Dan what are you doing up", she asked. "Well both dad and Uncle Bill are upset and feeling useless about the home being demolished ,so I thought I 'd make a last effort to find some information to help cheer them up", Dan replied.
Trixie smiled, Dan seemed to often follow a similar path to her own. She reached out and took his gloved hand in her own. "Your father, is rather extraordinary, how come you never said about his gift", Trixie asked. "I guess because he's uncomfortable about using it and worries what others will think". Even I admit that when I first saw him find something I was kind of freaked out", Dan confessed. "Well I think is amazing", Trixie exclaimed . Dan smiled, "thanks", he acknolwedged
Soon the two came to the main building and entered then walked toward the office.
Dan flung open the door to find a masked intruder who from the shape of their figure was obviously male standing over a large sack, "hey", he loudly protested, the man turned rapidly dropping something from his hand in surprise.
"What are you doing", Trixie challenged boldly, the man didn't not give an answer just approaching and pushing Dan hard backwards into a wall. "Leave him alone", Trixe protested", all that achieve was that the man rushed at her knocking her down. Then he quickly grabbed the sack and ran for the door. Both Dan and Trixie took seconds to regain their footing by which time the masked man had firmly locked the door trapping both of them inside the office. "I don't think there is money or anything else of value here, so what was he stealing", Dan asked. Trixie went over to the filing cabinets and pulled the drawers open one by one, it soon became obvious they were all empty. "Why would he take the logs books and diaries", Dan asked.
Trixie began to pace, "the only reason I can think is that the name of the benefactor must be in there", she guessed. "The home is already being demolished so it is not necessary to take that information", Dan countered. Trixie slowly tapped her foot, "perhaps all this time we have forgotten about the obvious question, "why did our benefactor remain anonymous. A lot of people donate to different charities and are happy to have their names recorded." Well we know the man was reasonably rich, as 15 millions dollars is quite a sum", Dan remarked. If I think about reasons why he'd donate I'd come up with the fact he could be an orphan himself, one who came into money."
"That's a good thought Dan and donate to this home could indicate he was an orphan here, but again why hide his identity ."
Dan was not answering just staring down at the ground at the item the thief had dropped. "Next question, why do you need a screwdriver", he pointed down at the instrument.
"A weapon", Trixie suggested. "I'd doubt it, Dan countered," sure you can use them as one but a gun is far more effective".
"Well screwdrivers are used for removing things", Trixie mused. "Yes, but what and why", Dan was puzzled . Trixie as yet had no definite answer to either question
"What's the time, she asked Dan. "It's only 530, Dan responded, "too early for any one to be up and yelling won't achieve much we are too far away from the dormitories".
So we just wait here while our thief gets away", trixie growled. "Not much else we can do Trix, Dan soothed. "I just hate standing around", Trixie moaned.
Dan watched her pace noticing how her curls bounced as she walked. "I love your hair", oh good grief had he actually said that out loud, now Dan felt a little embarrassed.
Trixie stopped pacing and stared over at him, "you love my hair", she muttered in astonishment. "Yes, Dan admitted. Trixie had always detested her curls as they made controlling her hairstyle difficult. So to have someone she admired admit he liked them brought a warm glow to her cheeks.
"Thanks", she told him softly. Trixie had to admit she liked both Dan and Jim but recently her feeling for Dan were getting stronger. But she was pushing them back trying to hold onto something for Jim that was probably only a dream. She was not being fair to him she reflected. So she moved forward and leaned toward him, "why don't you kiss me Daniel Mangan", she told him. At first Dan was surprised then he felt a small thrill of excitement. Moving toward her he took her firmly into his arms. Trixie closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss. Dan was about to oblige when he saw something under the door which made him grab her hard. "Ouch Dan, that's not what I expected, Trixie complained as his fingers dug into her arms. "Sorry Trix, but look", Dan pointed to the door where thin tendrils of smoke could be seen. "Trix I think there's a fire out there", Dan exclaimed.
A quick glance around the room revealed only one tiny window that would only be an effective escape to something as big as a rabbit. As the amount of smoke increased Trixie began to panic.
